question involving a PEG/g tube (due to autism issues)

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basicly i am needing all my teeth taken out and i wont be able to handle food in my mouth with no teeth, i have extreme sensory sensitivity in my mouth, dentures i have tried they are extremely painful (tried for a long period does not change) and due to problems i am not allowed implants says the dentist , so extreme malnutrition and hunger will be a issue for me (im 20 btw)

i have read alot about it and i am considering asking about getting a one just to keep me nutrition up

the nose kind is not a option because i am realy sensitive there also and ive read its extremely unconformable.

I don't think you need it, honestly--it's your ability to chew your food that'll be affected, not your ability to swallow. If you can swallow, you can drink nutrition shakes, which aren't particularly interesting but will keep you from becoming malnourished until your mouth heals. Soup can be very nutritious as well, and doesn't require chewing. Once your mouth heals, even without dentures you will be easily able to eat soft foods.

The exception would be if you are dangerously underweight or malnourished already, in which case--talk to your doctor, tell them you worry you won't be able to eat after the surgery, and you want to be sure you can stay fed. You might need to gain weight to get ready for surgery, but don't quote me on that; I'm not a doctor.

Experiment with soft foods now, so that you know which ones don't cause sensory overload, and have a list prepared. Try to get a nutritionist to talk to, as well, or an occupational therapist--someone who's willing to listen to you explain autism-related food issues and suggest possibilities.

If your mouth is so sensitive after the surgery that you can't tolerate having anything in it, and if that lasts for more than a few days, you do need to explain the problem to the doctors--a more temporary ng tube (yes, uncomfortable, but will keep you fed) could be a solution. I don't think this is one of those cases where you would actually need a PEG tube--those are surgically inserted and meant for long-term use, and you won't need one long-term. At the very most, your particular sensory problems might make it difficult for you to eat enough to stay healthy, and yeah, that's an indication for an NG tube if you can't find a way to chug nutrition shakes or something. But, even absolute worst case, you wouldn't need it anywhere near long enough to justify an implanted feeding tube--by the time the site healed enough to no longer be uncomfortable, your mouth would've healed enough for you to eat orally again.

So my non-medical opinion is, no, I don't think it would be worth it--it'd just be an extra hassle on top of recovering from the dental surgery, but it would be smart to make sure ahead of time that you'll have food you can eat afterward.

[quote="Callista"]I don't think you need it, honestly--it's your ability to chew your food that'll be affected, not your ability to swallow. If you can swallow, you can drink nutrition shakes, which aren't particularly interesting but will keep you from becoming malnourished until your mouth heals. Soup can be very nutritious as well, and doesn't require chewing. Once your mouth heals, even without dentures you will be easily able to eat soft foods.

The exception would be if you are dangerously underweight or malnourished already, in which case--talk to your doctor, tell them you worry you won't be able to eat after the surgery, and you want to be sure you can stay fed. You might need to gain weight to get ready for surgery, but don't quote me on that; I'm not a doctor.

Experiment with soft foods now, so that you know which ones don't cause sensory overload, and have a list prepared. Try to get a nutritionist to talk to, as well, or an occupational therapist--someone who's willing to listen to you explain autism-related food issues and suggest possibilities.

If your mouth is so sensitive after the surgery that you can't tolerate having anything in it, and if that lasts for more than a few days, you do need to explain the problem to the doctors--a more temporary ng tube (yes, uncomfortable, but will keep you fed) could be a solution. I don't think this is one of those cases where you would actually need a PEG tube--those are surgically inserted and meant for long-term use, and you won't need one long-term. At the very most, your particular sensory problems might make it difficult for you to eat enough to stay healthy, and yeah, that's an indication for an NG tube if you can't find a way to chug nutrition shakes or something. But, even absolute worst case, you wouldn't need it anywhere near long enough to justify an implanted feeding tube--by the time the site healed enough to no longer be uncomfortable, your mouth would've healed enough for you to eat orally again.

So my non-medical opinion is, no, I don't think it would be worth it--it'd just be an extra hassle on top of recovering from the dental surgery, but it would be smart to make sure ahead of time that you'll have food you can eat afterward.[/quote

ok thanks for that